Main, Rhine and Moselle Explorer

Travel to Mainz and embark Spirit of the Rhine to begin the overnight sailing towards Strasbourg.

Full day sailing towards Strasbourg, France.
Arrive 1900.

Spend a relaxing day on board Spirit of the Rhine passing predominantly through built-up areas of urbanisation. Settle into your cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship’s facilities.

Depart 1800.

Set off early on an included canal cruise in Strasbourg, followed by time at leisure in the city. Admire the medieval architecture and Gothic cathedral with its astronomical clock.

You can choose to return to Spirit of the Rhine for lunch and a relaxing afternoon on board, or remain in Strasbourg to explore independently for the afternoon (coach access is restricted in Strasbourg, so there will be a walk of around a mile from the cathedral back to the coach).

Sail overnight.

Arrive Rüdesheim, 0900. Depart 1400. 
Scenic Cruise, Middle Rhine Gorge.

The popular wine town of Rüdesheim has a traditional old town of half-timbered houses and is backed by terraced vineyards. Among its main attractions is a long narrow street, the Drosselgasse, which is lined on both sides with traditional wine taverns and overlooked by the glockenspiel tower with its hourly chimes.

This afternoon, cruise through the UNESCO-listed scenery of the Middle Rhine Gorge, passing the fabled Lorelei Rock en route to Cochem.

Continue sailing to Winningen for an overnight mooring.

Scenic Cruise, Moselle River.
Arrive Cochem, 1200.

The small town of Cochem enjoys a scenic riverside setting. Perched on a hilltop high above the town stands the neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle, and although most of the castle was rebuilt in the 19th century, the original 11th-century keep still survives. The town’s other historic architectural gems include a baroque Town Hall backed by a maze of streets and a quaint market square overlooked by timber-framed buildings.

Depart Cochem, 1300.
Scenic Cruise, Moselle River. 
Arrive Koblenz, 2000.

Following the morning in Cochem, spend a relaxing afternoon on board Spirit of the Rhine as she sails through the attractive scenery lining the Moselle.

Depart 1800.

Koblenz, meaning 'merging of the rivers', is situated on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. At the exact point where the two rivers meet, the Deutsches Eck, there is a monument with a huge equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I. Above the town sits the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a citadel built by the Prussians between 1816 and 1832.

Sail overnight.

Arrive 0900. Depart 2200.

The modern city of Frankfurt sits beside the Main river and, depending on your mooring, can be reached using our complimentary transfer service. The medieval old town, in the heart of the city, is lined with half-timbered buildings, boutiques and quaint apple-wine taverns.

In the central square, Römerberg, you can see the medieval Römer complex with their distinctive stepped gables and opposite is the Old St Nicholas church. You can explore Frankfurt on a combined coach and walking tour.

Sail overnight.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The city of Aschaffenburg is set beside the Main river and an included walking tour from your ship will reveal some of the main sights. The riverbank is dominated by the Renaissance Johannisburg Palace. It's a vast complex, with four wings and two towers, built in the 17th century. In the old quarter, on Theaterplatz square, is a fine neo-classical theatre, arcade and fountains. Nearby, there's a replica of a Roman villa discovered in Pompeii – the Pompejanum – commissioned by King Ludwig I and built between 1840-1848.

Sail overnight.

Arrive 0800.

Mainz is known for its medieval market squares, half-timbered houses, Romanesque sandstone cathedral and St Stephen’s church, which features stained glass windows by renowned artist Marc Chagall. Behind the cathedral in Gutenberg square is a statue of the father of modern printing Johannes Gutenberg, who was born in Mainz in the 14th century.

Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast and begin your return journey.